Final Country Pool Managers Conference spells the end of an era

For 28 years, the Country Pool Managers Conference has given rural swimming pool managers in New South Wales and opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge, make friends and learn about new technologies, methods and regulations.

The most recent conference was held in Cessnock in May of this year. It has now been decided that will be the last conference to be held.

Organiser Kerry Lynch says he discussed the situation with founders Mick Austin and Mick O’Sullivan, and regrettably made the decision to cease holding the conferences.

Lynch says it the decision was based on a number of changes in the rural and regional pool management world: changing demographics, ageing population of managers, and an increase in the number of pools being managed by large management groups.

The organisers and delegates were always largely from small businesses and family-run pools in regional and small rural towns, and those numbers are now dwindling.

Lynch says that there would often be two or three regional managers keen to host the conference in their town.

“But the last time I put out a call, no-one was putting their hand up,” he says.

The conference began way back in 1997 in the New South Wales town of Mudgee, home of pool manager Mick O’Sullivan, who founded the conference concept together with Mick Austin from Wellington, Brian Lynch from Cowra, Billy Smith from Engadine and Les Drury from Lithgow.

A big issue at the first conference was changes to the legislation made by the Greiner Government – without consultation with the pool managers – to remove the requirement for councils to employ people with proper qualifications.

Kerry Lynch – Brian’s brother from Orange who took over organising the conferences with his wife Mary and some continued involvement from “the two Micks” – says the issue of people working in the industry without proper qualifications continues today.

The conferences grew from 57 delegates to more than 150 in Lake Macquarie in 2014.

One of the strengths of the conference was keeping everything affordable for country people to get together and discuss the issues specifically relevant to them, as well as learning about government proposals and regulations, new technologies, and products from the trade.

“There were people who thought the conference would not last but the country delegates understood the importance and value of getting together,” Lynch says of the conference which nearly lasted three decades.

IMAGE: The Conference held at Lake Macquarie in 2014.